St. George parish marks milestone

The parishioners of St. George Greek Orthodox Church last Sunday celebrated the fifth anniversary of the opening of their new Dartmouth church.

The parishioners of St. George Greek Orthodox Church last Sunday celebrated the fifth anniversary of the opening of their new Dartmouth church.

The parish, formerly located on Ashley Boulevard in New Bedford, built a new church, meeting hall and offices on Cross Road that opened on June 9, 2009.

Participating in the milestone was his eminence Metropolitan Methodios, who also conducted the official ceremonies and blessing of the church five years ago.

On June 22, Methodios celebrated the hierarchical divine liturgy, assisted by Archimandrite Father Constantine S. Bebis, the pastor emeritus; Father Harry Providakis, the visiting officiating priest of the parish; and Archmandrite Pandeleimon Manousakis.

The metropolitan also tonsured four teenage boys as readers of the church, the first step toward the clergy, Bebis said. All residents of Dartmouth, they are Gregory Martin, Christian George Stamoulis, Noah DeRossi Goldberg and Asterios Panagiotopolos.

A banquet followed at Hawthorn Country Club to honor the metropolitan, the clergy and all parishioners who worked tirelessly to bring the new church campus into being. Proceeds of the banquet were donated to defray the church mortgage.